Safety with Fuses!
Fuses do NOT cause fires. People cause fires by installing fuses with too
high amperage rating!
Most people think fuses are "Old Fashioned". Fuses have been used for many years as
protection for wiring and the connected equipment.
Fuses, when Properly sized, protect the wiring
as they were designed.
The greatest problem is Fuse Size. Many
times when fuses blow due to an overload, Larger Fuses
are installed. If the fuse size is too high for the wire it is trying to protect,
the wire will overheat on a continous overload due to the fuse not blowing.
Fuses work by being the weakest link in a chain. In order to protect wiring, a fuse has
to blow BEFORE the wiring has enough time to become
too hot that it burns or deteriates the wire insulation.
Using the proper size fuse is VERY important. The following is the MAXIMUM size fuse to
use.
14 guage copper wire, up to 15 amp fuse
12 guage copper wire, up to 20 amp fuse
10 guage copper wire, up to 30 amp fuse
8 guage copper wire, up to 40 amp fuse
6 guage copper wire, up to 50 amp fuse
For the wire size being used, if the fuse size is greater than shown above, the risk of
deteriorating insulation and FIRE is great!!
NEVER exceed the above fuse sizes.
If you have a fuse box and you see plug fuses larger than 20 amps, there is a good chance
the fuses are too big! If they are, they should be changed to the right size to prevent any
further damage to the wire insulation. This may also prevent a fire!
If you install the correct fuse for the wire size and you still blow fuses, this means
there is an overload! The overload should be corrected.
NEVER install a larger fuse!
>>> If you have a FUSE TYPE electric service <<<
If you have an electric service that is of the fuse type, there is a chance that is is not
safe!
Back when fuse panels were being installed, it was typical to install the meter outside
and run a "cable" inside to the fuse panel. There is nothing wrong with this if it
was installed correctly. Correctly means the wire has to have a fused disconnect
OUTSIDE to protect the wire going from the meter to the panel, especially if it is any
distance at all.
Years ago, it was common practice in areas that had no electrical inspection to run cable
from the meter to the panel regardless of the distance. This means the wiring from
the meter to the panel is "unprotected"! If the insulation deteriorated and the
conductors touched or if someone accidently cut or drove a nail through the cable it would
not be protected and could injure someone or cause a fire!
ALSO...... A word of caution. Do NOT replace fuses in the dark! After the burned out fuse is removed it is possible to accidently insert ones finger into the fuse socket. This is a no, no!
If you have any doubt or questions,
Call a Licensed Electrician!
Top of Page
Return
to HomePage